Coop 2: Art’s Garden Coop, Costa Mesa, California

“As a novice woodworker I found the plans very helpful and couldn’t have done it without them.”

Coop 3: Stephanie’s Garden Coop, Cincinnati, Ohio

“This truly was a family project. My husband, kids, and I built the frame and set it in place. My mom and I dug the trenches and completed the project. We added two feet to the middle section and relocated the door to one of the shorter sides and made it swing outward. The coop is on a bit of a slope, so getting the footers level and putting up the hardware cloth evenly were a bit of a challenge. I would highly recommend renting an air-powered stapler when putting up hardware cloth. It is so much faster and easier!”

(See the Tools section of our Buyer’s Guide for suggestions on pneumatic staplers.)

“Instead of fencing boards, we used some tongue-and-groove beadboard left over from another project for the siding, and a neighbor contributed an old screen door that we cut down to fit. For a bit of extra room, we built our nesting boxes on the outside and added an operational shed window. With a pop door in the wall that slides up and down from the outside, some insulation in the walls, a small ceramic heat bulb on especially cold nights, and some plywood slabs placed over the night perches, our six chickens seem pretty comfortable.”

“Even right in the heart of the city, our coop has been investigated by deer, possum, hawks, owls, raccoons, dogs, and coyotes, but so far has stood up like Ft. Knox. Apparently all of that sweat and hard work digging the trenches and installing the hardware cloth has paid off!”

Coop 4: Chris’s Garden Coop, Brisbane, Australia

“I grew up on a farm and had chickens when I was little, but now live in suburbia. Getting chickens was part the novelty of keeping them in a suburban backyard, part having fresh eggs, and part challenging myself with the coop-building project.”

“I spent a while looking at coops, and I loved this design and its size. We wanted something big enough so the chickens would have room during the day, and we will let them out for a couple of hours to range the yard when home. We also needed something totally predator proof (aka our dog, who has a history with chickens). I added external nesting boxes for looks and practicality. We painted the coop to match our house colors, so it fits in really well.”

“I loved the plans. For a total novice, I found it easy enough, but also learnt a lot — and scored plenty of new tools.”

Coop 5: Nancy and Kent’s Garden Coop, Tehachapi, California

“The siding boards are cedar fence posts with clear weather proofing stain. For the roofing on the external nest boxes we used the same vinyl tiles as on the floor of the henhouse, then put the end pieces of the cedar fence posts on top. We put clear caulking in between the cedar fence posts, just to be on the safe side, and covered it with a clear waterproof stain for a watertight roof.”

“We put the large door on the outside of the coop for the cleanout of the henhouse. Also, instead of digging a trench for the hardware cloth, we dug about 2–3 inches of the top layer of sand in the floor of the run, then used 2x4s to encompass the perimeter of the entire run and coop floor and tacked the hardware cloth to the 2x4s and over the bottom floor of the run. We bought course sand and filled it in. It looks great, and the chickens seem to love it.”

Coop 6: Jill’s Garden Coop and Goat Pen, Port Orchard, Washington

“The plans were easy to understand and follow. I extended the roof to have the coop meet the goat shed, and I added a small free range access door that is too small for goats to use.”

“There were delays due to wet, cold, short days, but it all worked out well. When it was all done there was so much mud I put rock and paver blocks down to keep it neat and tidy.”

“Another challenge was working in the yard with three goats who were trying to be ‘helpful.’”

“I painted everything in the garage first. When I went to do touchups, Jake stuck his head in the paint can….pretty blue beard!”

A big thanks to everyone who shared their pictures and comments for this ninth ride of the Krewe of Coops. Inspired by what they’ve built? Let us know with a comment below.